Guard for cable cars



(No Model.)`

U P. P. DUNDON.

GUARD PoR GABLB GARS.

Patented Deo. 17,1889.

y m@ f y i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK FRANCIS DUN DON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

GUARD FOR CABLE CARS.

lSPECIFICATION forming part of lLetters Iatent No. 417,477, dated December 17, 1889. Application filed June '7, 1389. Serial No. 313,511. (No model.)

4 o all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK F. DUNDoN, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Guards for Cable Cars; and I hereby declare the following to be a-full, clear, and exact description of the same. .i

My invention relates to a novel device for guarding cars, motors, or other vehicles, and.

clearing obstructions from the track; and it consists in the constructions and combinations of devices, which I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

Figurel is a view showing the front end of the car with my device attached thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section showing a portion of the brush, the timber to which it is fastened, with the elastic connection `thereon, and the supporting-timber 1n the rear of the brush. Fig. 3 is a front view of a short section of the brush with its supporting-timbers, spring, and guide. Fig. 4 1s a plan view looking down upon the top of the timbers and brush, showing also a portion of the front of the car. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the projecting ledge or step of the car, showing the arrangement of the brushes beneath the step and along the side of the car.

A is a car, and B B are timbers iitted to the front of the car, so as to project a short distance, as shown in Fig. 1. These timbers may either stand at an angle or V shape, as shown in the present oase, or they may be curved, straight, diagonal, or of other suitable or convenient form; but I have determined that the form here shown is as suitable as any.` Through these timbers pass the vertical rods or bolts C, having the lower ends 40 slotted vertically, and pins D pass through these slots and are fixed in the timbers or head E, which carries the brushes F. This brushhead E conforms in shape to the supportingtimbers above and lies directly beneath them, and by means of the springs Cr the brushhead is held down, so that the pins D will lie in the lower ends of the slots in the bolt C; but if there is a vertical motion of the car, or if much obstruction is encountered by the 5o brush, the head E may be forced upward, thc

springs allowing it to move and thus relieve in a measure the pressure upon the brushes.

The brushes F are formed of any'strong iiexible material and follow the shape of their supporting-head E. I have shown them in the present case as supported from the front of the car by means of the timbers B but it will be manifest that they may also be supported from the wheel frame or axles of the truck, if preferable, and at any suitable distance in front of the wheels, or extending along the sides of the car.

The points of the brushes may be trimmed either curved or straight to correspond to the road-surface, and so adjusted when placed in position as to be not more than an inch from the rails and road-surface. These brushes are preferably made of different lengths, the outer ones being longest and the rear ones somewhat shorter, and, if desired, they may be covered with canvas or other iiexible material to a point near the lower ends. The outer or front portion of the brush should preferably be inclined outward toward the front, so that when it strikes any object it will, in being forced backward, be also forced downward and nearer to the ground.

Behind the brush is fixed a timber or bar H, which is suitably supported from the carbody or from the wheel-frame, so that the rear portion of the brush rests against this bar, and in case any heavy obstruction is encountered the bar supports the brush, so that it becomes' a rigid obstacle, and while being sufficiently flexible to accommodate itself to the body which maybe struck and not injure it, it will be rigidly supported by the bar H, which is placed as near the track and roadsurface as is safe or convenient.

It will be manifest that any small obstruction will be easily swept out of the way by the brush. Any obstruction from the roadbed or heavy rock projecting slightly will, by reason of the flexibility of the brush, pass through and not cause any hinderance or ob- 9';

IOO

behind the brush, which will prevent it from bending too far backward, the body will be pushed forward or to one side, depending on the shape of the brush-frame, and prevent it from passing beneath the wheels of the ca r.

In order to protect the sides of the car, I employ similar brushes fixed to timbers or bars which are set along the sides of the oar and supported either from the j ournal-box of the wheel-axles or from some portion of the body ofthe car itself. It is preferable to fix these brushes to short timbers which overlap each other, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the tendency will be to throwanybody coming into Contact with them outward and away from the ear.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The flexible brushes having the inner and outer portions of different lengths, the outer portion being slanted outwardly at the bottom, in combination with a re-enforeing bar fixed behind the brushes, substantially as described.

2. The brushes made of flexible material, fixed in the supporting timbers or head, a eorrespondingly-shaped frame-timber fixed to the'ear above the brush-carrying timber and having the bolt passing through it and down upon each side of the brush-head, said bolt being slotted at the lower end, pins passing through said slots and into the brush-head, and springs G between the brush-head and the timber above, substantially as described.

3. The fiexible brushes fixed in a head which is vertically movable, and springs whereby the brushes are held down against a tendency to rise, in combination with ,a reenforeing or supporting bar fixed behind the brushes,substantially as described.

4. A guard for ears and vehicles, consisting of the combination of flexible brushes suspended in front and at the sides of the oar, and the 1re-enforcing or sustaining bars placed behind vand in contact with the lower portion of the brushes, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

PATRICK FRANCIS DUNDON.

Vitnessos:

S. II. NoURsE, H. C. LEE. 

